You know what man - I have over 20 years in the hobby myself and I enjoy a heart pounding low inverted flyby (or knifedge for that matter) myself but I Don't do it in a crowded pattern. I do it when there isn't anyone else on the flightline because that's when it's safe for others - Endangering myself is one thing - endangering others is quite another. You're being responsible by flying when other aren't out there and at the same time preserving your good time and I think that's great for the most part.

Still - even then that's the best "bad" example I can provide for others.

I was out yesterday as I think I mentioned and there were only a few of us out - one of them was one of our local crazies and another was a local novice who has really mastered his trainer well. He was doing very nice touch and goes...it was great to see. Well, the crazy is out flying behind the flightline, breaking our altitude limit (we are near an airport) and just generally cutting the fool in a grand old way. He's an extremely good pilot so when he does it, it looks cool and he was out there by himself at the flightline - so that's pretty much fine too I suppose. As he's taxiing back in though the novice goes up to him and says "nice flying."

That comment in and of itself isn't of much concern but it does reinforce that good pilots are examples to novice pilots - it's possible that the novice now thinks that the behavior exhibited by the crazy is acceptible in all circumstances - not just when he's alone on the flightline. This particular crazy will do it regardless of who is in the air and I've seen the younger pilots worship him; it isn't good.

I agree - sometimes our litigious caution really does get in the way of a good time. Having seen the damage even a 40 sized plane can do to a man (cut through a man's thigh like it was butter) I don't mind being safe in my flying.

I think that too much is being read into the comments of the article - taking it too seriously is just as bad as not seriously enough. There is a happy medium; there is a "safe enough" though it is subjective and to be determined by each club I suppose. I don't think they were meant specifically at any style of flying but there is a common relevant example of stupid where that fellow was flying a large airplane in the pits at an event.

Dude - that's stupid - who thinks flying in the pits is acceptable at all anywhere? But he's a good pilot an as such he's an example to those who are less good. Hehappened to be flying 3D - I know a lot of fellows who fly 3D and they are very safety aware.

3d is not the problem - stupid is and has always been.